Seattle Based Non-Profit
Skills
Developments
Organization
Learning skills creates life and hope now and, in the future, but lack of skills creates hopelessness and a social and economic burden.
Your journey starts here. learning together is a powerful way to show that education is an ongoing journey for everyone.
aBOUT US
WHO WE ARE
Skills Developments organization helps communities from the East and Horn of Africa develop skills to integrate into their new society. Skills development encourages community self-reliance, participation in development and various productive activities that the community is engaged in. SDO creates an enabling environment in which the community can benefit. SDO staff are committed to reaching out to the community openly and impartially and to serving to foster understanding and develop new skills for the future that benefit them and their families.
Skills Developments Organization is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that aims to address the lack of skills and challenges of employment among refugees and first-generation immigrants in Washington.
SDO staff, board members, and volunteers bring a deep understanding of the diverse needs of King County’s new communities. Thanks to the hard work of our diverse faculty, and philanthropic efforts of our donors, we are able to create new skills that can achieve a livable wage employment opportunity for immigrants and refugees in Washington State.
By providing skills in-language, culturally competent program designs that responsively support the goals of each client, we focus to build sustainable self-reliance for the first-generation immigrant and recently refugees in Washington State.
SOME OF WHAT WE PROVIDE
ESL CLASSES
Planned for those who are limited English Proficiency. The SDO organization focuses on building a person’s English language skills and becoming someone who can communicate clearly with the community they live in and those they work with. ESL Classes led by experienced educators and supported by culturally responsive community helpers who understand the unique needs of immigrant and refugee populations. Every element of the program is designed to strengthen social connections, enhance family stability, and equip participants with the tools needed for long-term economic independence.This ESL program initiative will offer accessible, community-based education for adult learners in a supportive and inclusive environment. Hosted at the Community Builder Rainier Vista in collaboration with the Seattle Housing Authority, the program will operate three days a week and focus on four core areas: English language acquisition, digital literacy, life skills development, and job readiness training.
CULTURAL
INTEGRATION
SDO teaches new communities the importance of social integration, encourages them to embrace other cultures, learn from others, and share their rich culture and history. We encourage them to attend meetings and events where different communities come together. We encourage them not to be afraid to speak up with their neighbors and those they meet at public events. We train them to be proud of their culture and history, and to respect different cultures and beliefs.
YOUTH
SERVICES
SDO focuses on helping new communities build and develop skills and learn employable skills and educational avenues through training and mentorship internship with employment support. Participants gain, skills training, and educational services, ensure a pathway for school to life success. This is attained through individualized case managing and mentoring directed in their in born language.